Bosom-press.



' No. 805,049. PATENTED 100v. 21, 1905.

T. s. WILES. BOSOM PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.8.1904.

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No. 805,049. 4 PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. T. S. WILES.

- BOSOM PRESS APPLICATION mum rams. 1904.

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i .9 4 N WK g 53 will: fi l' 9 Ju v i No. 805,049. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. T. S. WILES..

BOSOM PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. 1904.

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ANDREW n (mum c0 vnoro-wnocmmme uuuuuuuuuuu u cv No. 805,049. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. T. s. WILBS.

BOSOM PRESS.-

APPLIOATION FILED PEILB. 1904.

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PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

T. S. WILES.

BOSOM PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1904.

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iiNiTnn STATES PATENT 0mm BOSOlVl-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed February 8, 1904. Serial No. 192,617.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S.VV1Lns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bosom-Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mechanism adapted primarily to press shirt-bosoms, while it is also capable of use in ironing or pressing collars, ends, or other articles or materials, and the purposes in view are to provide mechanical devices so constructed, arranged, and cooperating as to permit successive automatic operation upon a plurality of work-holders, each adapted to the particular article or material to be operated upon and to permit the substitution of one work-holder for and independently of another in the progress of the successive operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description,

and the novel features thereof will be particu-' larly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a machine embodying my invention and showing the parts in the position they assume in the Fig. 2 is' a like section to that of Fig. 1, but showing the parts in a nonpressing position. Fig. 3 is atransvcrse vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. A is a transverse vertical section on the line 4 A of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a perspective of a pressureadjusting plate. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of a portion of chain driving mechanism, and Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a portion of Fig. 8.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A represents the frame of the machine, which in this instance is in box form, thus serving as a protection of and from the system of gearing mounted thereon and therein and providing a maximum of strength for the support and operation of all of the parts and devices of the machine.

The upper portion of the frame at each side, as at A, is projected outwardly to form a case and cover for chain driving mechanism hereinafter described, and projecting upwardly are formed or secured standards A for the rigidly-fixed support of a presser-plate B, which in this instance is hollow and adapted to be heated by steam by means of the admission-pipe B and the exit-pipe B in the usual and well-known manner. Any other desirable heating agent may be employed. Nuts A serve to secure the presser-plate B upon the standards A the arms 13*, strengthened by ribs B extending from the plate to the standards, as clearly shown. Further details of the frame are such as are required for the support of the fiXed and movable parts of the machine and will hereinafter be more particularly mentioned.

The part that cooperates with the presserplate is a pressure device (1, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which is, generally speaking, a cross-head, cross-bar, or a plate adapted to be moved toward and away from the presser-plate B, whereby when an article upon a suitable holder is interposed and thepressure device is moved toward the presser-plate such article will be subjected to that degree of pressure required to iinish or iron the same. In this instance the pressure device is a cross-head guided in its reciprocations by rods C, sliding in bearings A formed as a part of or it may be secured to the frame A. As one means of adjusting the pressure to be imparted by the cross-head 0 its upper surface is slightly inclined and there is mounted thereon a plate C (see Fig. 7,) having slots C through which pins (1*, projecting from cross-head (1, pass, whereby the adjusting-plate O is permitted to move upon but in a line across the crosshead 0, such movement being produced. and regulated by screw 0", which embraces the bifurcated lug C of the plate C. The under surface of the plate (J being inclined and movable upon the inclined upper face of the cross-head, an inward movement of the adjusting-plate increases the pressure upon an article, and such pressure is decreased by an outward movement of said adjusting-plate.

The means to be employed for giving the necessary reciprocation to the pressure device C may be varied without a material departure from the gist of my invention, and I have therefore shown only one form of such means, and it comprises toggle-levers D D, the former pivoted to depending ribs C on the crosshead and the latter pivoted on a shaft D mounted in bearings A", formed on the frame A. (See Fig. As usual, the toggles are IIO pivoted to each other, and the upper toggle has ears D for the pivoted connection of links D, by which the toggles are operated to produce the desired reciprocation of the pressure device or cross-head.

The mechanism for operating the toggles and links may be varied; but I have shown one form of said means and will now proceed to describe the same.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, E is the powershaft mounted in a long bearing E, formed on or secured in the frame A. A collar E secured upon the outer end of the shaft E, maintains the loose pulley E in position at the side of the fixed pulley E while a mitergear E fixed to shaft E at its inner end,serves to convey motion to the two miter-wheels E or E loosely mounted upon a screw-shaft F, disposed at right angles to the main shaft and parallel with the links D Between the miterwheels E and E is a clutch E, which is slidably mounted on the shaft by a spline E while the hubs of the miter-wheels are formed as clutch members, so that the shaft F may be rotated in opposite directions by the main shaft and the miter-gearing in a well-known manner. The shaft F is mounted in bearings F F in the end walls of the frame, the former being removably secured at the margin of an opening A,Fig. 2,which is large enough to permit of the introduction of the shaft and the miter-gears thereon, and the bearing may be provided with-a removable steel end-thrust Washer F whilethe bearing F is provided with an adjusting-screw F", having a set-nut F for the purpose of taking up wear and preventing endwise movement of the shaft. The shaft F is threaded for a portion of its length, as shown, and a nut F is fitted thereon, and to this nut each of the links D, is pivotally connected and at opposite sides thereof, as at F. In a circumferential groove in the clutch E is mounted a fork-ring or collar E having an arm E, adapted for the reception and rigid connection of a rod E extending beneath the screw-shaft and supported in a depending lug F on the nut F, beyond which lug said rod is secured'to a rockarm E rigidly fixed to a rock-shaft E supported in a bearing E and carrying at its opposite end a clutch-operating lever E so that an attendant may by means of said lever throw the clutch at will, so as to control the operation of the parts described to produce an upward or a downward movement of the pressure device or cross-head C. In order to render this action automatic, there are placed upon the rod E two collars or tappets E and E, the former at about the inward termination of the thread of the shaft and the latter near its outward termination, the lug F of the nut F being between said collars or tappets.

As thus far described the up-and down movements of the pressure device is produced and controlled as follows: The driving-belt being transfer red from the loose pulley E to the fast pulley E the main shaft and the mitergears E and E rotate continuously, and while the clutch E is in its middle position, as shown, the screw-shaft is at rest. Taking the parts, as shown in Fig. 2, the attendant throws the lever E (see dotted lines) to the left, and this throws clutch E to the right and into mesh with the miter-gear E, which, the main sh aft being rotated over to the left, causes the screw-shaft to rotate over to the right, and consequently draws the nut F toward the mid-length of the shaft, thus through the media of the links D straightening the toggles D D, and they in turn raising the pressure device or cross-head into the position shown in Fig. 1. During the travel of the nut F its lug F contacts with the tappet or collar E and moves rod E and the clutchuntil the latter is disconnected from mitergear E and by a proper adjustment of the tappet or collar terminates the upward movement of the cross-head at the desired instant, thereby automatically accomplishing the stoppage of the moving parts, as desired. It is apparent that the lowering of the pressure device or cross-head may be started by lever E and automatically stopped by a similar action of the tappet E and lug F.

It now remains to provide means for the interposition of articles or materials to be operated upon by the presser and pressure devices having the relative cooperation hereinbefore described. Various means may be employed without departing from the principles of my invention so long as there is provision for using disconnected, detached, and wholly independent work-holding. devices which are capable of being brought to one and the same or to a common point for preparing work thereon to be operated upon by said presser and pressure devices. I have shown one form of such means, and it involves a track or tracks extending to a point between the presser and pressure devices and workholding devices, each adapted to travel upon said track or tracks. It further involves in case more than one track and more than one work-holder is employed means for the transfer of each work-holder from one track to another.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that at a point slightly below the highest position of the pressure device or cross head I have located a track Gr, one rail being supported by the frame A at one side and the other by the opposite side of said frame, as shown in Fig.

6. Upon this track is supported a truck I, carrying a bosom-board I, or any other desirable device adapted to any particular article or material to be treated, and provided with axles I and wheels 1 the latter adapted to the track G, in this instance by being flanged, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. I is a curved bed or pan common in shirt-ironing machines and serves to prevent soiling of garments being ironed. In the base of the truck are openings or recesses 1 into which the pins (3 of the cross-head project for the purpose of preventing disalinement of the truck when the pressure device is in operation. Now by means of certain short track-sections carried by chains hereinafter described the track G is made and can otherwise be made practi cally continuous from one end of the machine to the other, so that a single truck I may be moved along said track after being loaded with an article to be pressed into or between then by means of the mechanism hereinbefore described subjected to pressure for a desired period, and by the same mechanism released from said pressure device and returned to the place of beginning to be again loaded. I prefer, however, the employment of a plurality of trucks, and for their use I provide a second track H, located slightly above the lowest position of the pressure device or crosshead C. I also provide means for the automatic transfer of trucks from one track to the other. In providing two tracks and two trucks it is apparent that while one truck is being loadedthat is, while a garment or article is being placed upon it-another truck with its load or article to be pressed may be 1 undergoing the operation of pressing, and 1 that by changing the trucks the pressing operation will be practically continuous, and this without transferring the trucks from one track to another, as will be hereinafter more clearly described; but I prefer to employ truck-transferring devices. l One form of device for transferring trucks 4b from one track to another comprises endless i sprocket-chains J J K K, arranged in 'two sets of four chains in each set, two of each set being located at each side of the frame A and extending from the upper to the lower track and intersecting said tracks at openings Gr therein distant from each other equal to the distance between the wheels Fon each side of the trucks I. At the pressing'end of the machine these points of intersection are in ver- 5 tical line with said wheels when the truck is in position to be moved by the pressure device O against the presser B. A similar set of chains is located at .the loading end of the machine, as shown. Each of the chains has a suitable number of traclesection links K J, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) which when in line make each track G and H practically continuous, whereby a single truck could be moved by hand into and out of pressing position and into and out of loading position on the upper track Gr, so, also, a single truck on each track could be so moved, as the lower truck in rising with the cross-head 0 would contact with the track-section links of the adjacent chains and 5 move them out of line with the upper track the presser B and the pressure device C and at their points of intersection, the openings G, and in the return movement of the crosshead the wheels I would contact with the next pair of track-section links and depress them, so as to again be in alinement with the lower track, and at the same time alining the upper links J with the upper track. In this manner each truck would be confined to use of each single track; but, as before stated, I prefer to provide automatic truck-transferring means in addition to the utilization of the pressure device or cross-head C, as just described, and such transfer means will be hereinafter described.

Four shafts L L L L carry sprockets L Figs. 3 and 4, on which the chains J K are mounted, and the shafts L and L (the lower shaft of each pair, there being one pair extending in sections along each side of the machine) carry each a worm-gear M driven by a worm M, mounted on a cross-shaft M, having apinion M thereon which meshes with a gear M loosely mounted on a parallel shaft N, which is driven by means of a pinion N fixed thereon and meshing with a rack O, mounted on the nut F of the screw-shaft. The gear M is mounted to rotate on the shaft N and has an integral single-toothed ratchet M therein, Figs. 8 and 9. A pawl M pressed by a spring M into contact with the ratchet, is pivoted to an arm M mounted rigidly on shaft N so that as the nut F travels to ward the pressing end of the machine to cause the pressing operation the pawl M is moved away from the tooth M of the ratchet and completely around said ratchet when the pawl pressed by the spring I drops behind the tooth, whereby in the return movement of the nut F that is, when the cross-head O is lowered-the ratchet and gear M rotate and actuate gear M the worms M, wormgears M and lower shafts L and L and these actuate the chains J K. Now by reference to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that the upper shafts L L2 are formed in separated sections, while the lower shafts L L are in connected sections, the connections being in this instance a series of (direction of rotation) changing miter gears P 1 P whereby through the action of the gearing above described the presser-end set of chains J J are actuated only in a direction that lowers a truck supported on the chain-section links thereof, while the chains K K are actuated only in a direction to lift a truck from the lower track H to the upper track Gr.

Q, Fig. 6, is a spring-latch on one rail of the lower track to prevent a movement of a truck toward the pressing end of the machine, and Q, is a similar latch at the end of one of the rails of the upper track to prevent movement of a truck on said upper track toward the loading end after said truck has reached a position for the pressing operation. If desired, a latch Q or Q may be arranged on The tracks R are shorter than the tracks B,

so as to permit the passage of the wheels of a truck on the lower track from the pressing end of the machine to the loading end.

Various changes in detailsof construction and relative arrangement of parts from those shown and described may be made without a material departure from the novel features of the invention. For convenience I have designated the fixed device B as a presser device and the movable device (1 as the pressure device, the former being passive and the latter active. It is also apparent that the work-holding devices, herein shown in the form of trucks, are each independent, separate, and unconnected with each other, so that each is separately interposable between the presser and pressure devices and afterward is returnable to a predetermined single point for use in removing its article or load and for replacing said article by another, which is preferable to such a connection of the workholding device as would require an operator to constantly change his position in his attendance upon the machine.

The operation of the machine may, as hereinbefore stated, involve a use of only the upper track and but one work-holding truck; but the preferred operation involves the use of both tracks and at least two trucks, and the operation in that case is as follows: Taking the principal elements of the machine in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the truck I, and its appurtenances at the right, is in the leading position, while the other truck with its load at the left is in the pressing position, and it usually remains there while the attendant is properly arranging and securing by well-.

known means a shirt bosom upon the board 1, or the pressing operation may be for a shorter or longer period, as desired, and when completed the operator throws lever E to the right and through the medium of the rod E and clutch E operatively connects pinion E so as to rotate the threaded shaft in a direction to cause the nut thereon to travel to the position shown in Fig. 2, and thereby break the toggle-levers, bringing down the pressure device or cross-head (J, with the truck thereon, in line with the lower track. During this time the pawl and ratchet M* has been rotating the gear M and by the intermediate power-conveying devices the endless chains at the pressing end of the machine have by the upper track, and upon its arrival at'that point the lug F of the nut F contacts with the tappet E and thereby the clutch-rod E is moved to' disconnect the clutch E from gear E and the clutch is left disconnected from both gears, so that no part of the machine except the main shaft and gears E, E, and E are in motion. The operator now pushes by hand the upper truck to and between the pressing devices, draws the lower truck to the loading end of the machine, and throws the lever E to the left or away from himself, which connects clutch E with mitergear E, which, by the gear E on the main sh aft,gives to the threaded shaft a rotation that causes the toggle-levers to straighten, so as to move the upper truck and its load against the presser B, and as soon as this is accomplished the lug F on the nut F contacts with tappet E, which disconnects the clutch E from mitergear E, leaving said clutch between and disconnected from both of the miter-gears E and E thus leaving all parts of the machine at rest. The second truck is now unloaded and reloaded, and the operation is repeated at will.

Various modifications may be adopted which retain that portion of my invention whichinvolves the use of disconnected, detached, and wholly independent work-holding devices and their movement from a single common loading and unloading position to a pressing position, so that an attendant is not required to change his position while operating the machine when two' tracks are employed. For eX- ample, by utilizing the pressure device in its vertical movements as the sole means for transferring a truck from one track to another the remaining transferring and guiding means may be omitted. In such case the upper track would be provided with the transfer-spaces G, while the lower track H would not necessarily require although it might have similar spaces H, for it is apparent that the pressure device or cross-head when in its lowest position is adapted to raise a truck from the lower track and carry it to the pressing position shown in Fig. 1, and return said truck to said track H, and, furthermore, as the movement of said pressure device or cross-head is comparatively slow, a truck upon the upper track G could be moved over and removed from over said cross-head during its upward or downward movements, respectively, below the plane of said upper track, and thus the machine would perform the pressing operation.

Various other modifications in details may be made without a material departure from the principle and mode of operation of my invention, and I therefore include all such as are within the skill of any one conversant with machinery of the class involved.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of a fixed presserde vice, a movable pressure device, a track extending between said devices, a work-holding device, and means for immovably connecting said Work-holding device with said pressure device.

2. The combination of a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a track extending between said devices, a movable workholder, and means on the movable pressure device for immovably and temporarily connecting the said work-holder therewith.

3. The combination of a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a track extending between said devices, a work-holding device, and means for automatically and immovably connecting said work-holder with said pressure device.

4. The combination of a fixed presser device, a coacting movable pressure device, and two sets of tracks extending to and between said presser and pressure devices.

5. The combination of a fixed presser device, a coacting movable pressure device, and two sets of tracks extending to and between said presser and pressure devices, one of said tracks having openings whereby trucks may be transferred from one track to another.

6. The combination of a fixed presser device, a coacting movable pressure device, two sets of tracks, one having transfer-openings, and transfer-guiding track-sections extending from one of said tracks to the other.

7, The combination of a fixed presser de- Vice, 9. Boasting movable pressure device, two sets of tracks One having transfer-openings and transfer-guiding track-sections extending from one of said tracks to the other, one of said guiding track sections, being shorter than the distance from one of said tracks to the other.

8. Asa means for presenting an article to the operation of fixed and movable pressing devices, two tracks one above the other, trucks adapted to travel upon said tracks, and a series of vertical truck-guides depending from the upper tracks, the intermediate guides being shorter than the terminal guides.

9. As a means for presenting articles to the operation of fixed and movable pressing devices, a plurality of movable article-supporting devices at a point beneath the fixed presser device, and a plurality of tracks constructed and adapted to permit the transfer of said article-supporting devices from one track to another.

10. The combination with a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a track extending to and between said devices for presenting a work-holding device, a track extending from said presser and pressure devices for withdrawing a work-holding device, and means for securing said work-holding device from movement relative to said pressure de- Vice when in contact therewith,

11. The combination with a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a plurality of tracks, a plurality of trucks adapted to said tracks, means for forcing a truck and said pressure device toward said presser device, and means for transferring a truck from one of said tracks to another.

12. The combination with a fixed presser d'evice, a movable pressure device, a plurality of tracks, a plurality of trucks adapted to said tracks, means for forcing a truck and pressure device toward said presser device, and means for automatically transferring a truck from one of said tracks to another.

13. The combination with a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a plurality of tracks, a plurality of trucks adapted to said tracks, means for forcing a truck and said pressure device toward said presser device, and means for simultaneously transferring trucks in opposite directions from one track to another. I

14. The combination with a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a plurality of tracks, a plurality of trucks adapted to said tracks, means for forcing a truck and pressure device toward said presser device, and means for simultaneously and automatically transferring trucks in opposite directions from one track to another.

15. The combination of a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a plurality of tracks and trucks, and means for transferring said trucks from one track to another said means being operatively connected with the movable pressure device operating mechanism.

16. The combination with a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device and its operat ing mechanism, a plurality of work-holding devices, and their supporting and guiding means, of means for transferring said workholding devices, and means for rendering the latter means successively operative and inoperative.

17. The combination with a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device and its operating mechanism, a plurality of work-holding devices and their supporting and guiding means, of means for transferring said workholding devices, and means for rendering the latter means inoperative during one movement of said pressure device.

18. The combination of a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device, a plurality of independent, separate, interposable, workholding devices, and means for transferring the latter to separate supports for movement to and from said presser and pressure devices.

19. The combination of a fixed presser de vice, a movable pressure device and its operating mechanism, a plurality of tracks, a plurality of work-holding devices adapted to move thereon, transferring mechanisms extending from one of said tracks to another, and means for moving said transferring mechanisms in opposite directions.

20; The combination of fixed and movable pressing devices, tracks leading to, between and from said devices, Work-holding devices, and means for transferring the latter at the ends of said-tracks beneath the fixed presser device.

21. Asameansoftransferring work-holding devices, adapted to move upon tracks, endless chains having track-section links.

22. As a means of transferring Work-holding devices adapted to move upon tracks, endless chains having track-section links, and means for moving said chains a predetermined -distance.

23. The combination of a fixed presser device, a reciprocating pressure device having pins, and a Work-holding device having recesses for the automatic reception and retraction of said pins.

24. The combination of a fixed presser device, a movable pressure device having pins, an' interposed adjusting-plate slotted for the passage therethrough of said pins, and a Workholding device having recesses for the automatic reception and retraction of said pins.

25. The combination of a fixed and a relatively movable pressing device, a movable work-holding device, tracks for the latter, shafts parallel With said tracks, sprockets on said shafts bearing chains having track-section links, and a gearing for changing the relative direction of rotation of said shafts.

26. The combination of a fixed and a relatively movable pressing device the latter having guiding means and toggle-levers, a thread ed shaft having a nut, connecting-rods extending from said nut to said toggle-levers, a rack secured to said nut, ratchet-d riving mechanism operated by said rack, and Work-holding supporting and moving devices, operatively connected With said ratchet-driving mechanism.

27. The combination of a threaded shaft having a nut and rack, a rack-meshing pinion, a pawl-arm and pawl, a ratchet-gear, a Worm and-pinion, the latter meshing With said ratchetgear, and sprocket-shafts carrying endless chains and having a gear meshing With said Worm.

28. The combination of a fixed presser device, tWo tracks, a truck upon each track, and a movable pressure device adapted to move either of said trucks against said presser device.

29. The combination of a fixed presser device, two tracks, one having transfer-openings, a truck upon each of said tracks, and a movable pressure device having a travel in a path extending from the lower of said tracks to a point to bring either of said trucks against said presser device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS S. WlLES.

Witnesses:

ROBERT KEATING SMITH, J. WV. BAcoN. 

